5 Midwest Country Inn Escapes

Busy hands and minds come here to rest. This whimsical farmhouse B&B is all about relaxation (35 miles west of Minneapolis). Two private suites have comfortable beds and refreshing cross breezes. In the garden, a hanging bed with a soft comforter invites afternoon naps. For a rustic "spa" treatment, guests soak in side-by-side claw-foot tubs in an adorable gazebo where lanterns glow after dark. Organic breakfasts include buttery eggs with asparagus, Gruyère and freshly snipped chive flowers. Open May-October. From $135. See Midwest Living's review.[2] (763) 972-6891; naturesnestfarm.com[3]

You'll be serenaded by the whippoorwills in the oaks around this full-service inn (40 miles north of La Crosse). Styled after English country manors, Brambleberry hides amid bluffs in idyllic road-biking country. Foodies love the farm-fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, bacon and ham. In addition to breakfast, the inn offers four- and five-course harvest dinners July-October. (In early spring, dinners are simpler affairs, as the owners are busy tapping maples and birthing lambs!) From $99. See Midwest Living's review.[7] (608) 525-8001; brambleberrybandb.com[8]

Goats, sheep, pigs and ducks—not to mention überfriendly owners—make Rainbow Ridge (10 miles north of La Crosse) a great fit for families or couples who would like to help feed and milk goats or even give spring lambs their first bottle. (But no one will mind if you prefer to just sit back with a book and enjoy the vista of sheep dotting the green hills.) Rooms and breakfast are simple but wholesome. From $105. See Midwest Living's review.[12] (888) 347-2594; rainbowridgefarms.com[13]

The numbers say it all at this quiet B&B across the Ohio River from Cincinnati: 21 acres, 9 horses, a 140-year-old house and barn, and a 3-course breakfast. Many guests take a two-hour riding lesson ($65). Though not luxurious, the B&B has nice touches: oak furniture from the owner's great-grandparents, ample information about nearby attractions, and made-to-order breakfasts with dishes such as fried apples and seven-grain pancakes. From $135. See Midwest Living's review.[17] (859) 586-0199; firstfarminn.com[18]

Heirlooms and repurposed materials give a perfectly imperfect patina to this farmhouse (80 miles northwest of Fargo): wood floors from an old house, a fireplace made of local stone, a barn-wood vanity that still has spots horses gnawed. Locally inspired breakfasts include Swedish pancakes, Norwegian cheese, Danish ableskivers and fresh eggs. The four cozy guest rooms share two baths; ask which rooms are booked. From $80. See Midwest Living's review.[22] (701) 769-2275; voldenfarm.com[23]